Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-03-18
LIBEL.
The Close of the Prelim.
mary Examination.
G. WILEY WELLS EXONERATED
Defendants B. A. Stephens and A.
NJ. Thornton Held to Answer
in $1,000 Bail.

had been published in the Erpress OF
Wednesday aud the Tribune of yester.
day morning. He particularized some
glaring errors in the account as. contained
by the 1'ribuue, and said that the HER
AID was the only paper which contained
a fair statement of the evidence. He
called the attention of the Court that it
had control over the reporters and could
either exclude them from the court.
room or punish them for contempt.
Justice Taney instructed the reporters
to be careful aud get the evidence as it
was given.
Major Horace Bell was recalled for
cross. examination.
Counsel for defendants stated that the
files of the papers which it was desired
to introduce in evidence were in the
hands of the express messenger, and
they desired to make no further cross
examination until they arrived.
The District Attorney objected to tax.
ing The witness of the stand and placing
him on at some other time. He wanted
the cross examination concluded and the
witness dismissed.
Objections withdrawn after short
argument.
A. J. KINGS TESTIMONY.
The next witness was A. j. King, who
testified that he knew the defendants on
the 23i of February. Have seen a
pamphlet like this. 1t was given me by
Mr.. Thornton. Mr.. WellA was with
him. They were walking along the
street aud passed me. Captain Thorn.
ton turned and gave me the pamphlet.
He said he had told Major Bell that he
was going to circulate it. Mr.. Wells did
not say anything to me. Have been ac.
,auainted with Major Bell thirty years,
and his family ever since they came out
here. The relations between Major
Bell and his wife were as pleasant as any
family ever met Never knew him to
abuse her; never knew Mrs. B Ill to be
insane; never knew of her being at the
il sane asylum at Stockton. My rela.
tions with his family have been intimate.
Mr.. Wells was excited when Captain
Thornton gave me the pamphlet. Mr..
Wells said nothing; he had the appear
ance of being an excited man, and
laughed. Saw Captain Thornton hand
one to Dan Kevane. l know of Mrs.
Bell going away. She left because she
was ILL; some mental arrangement, un.
derstood. Don't know the cause except
from hearsay.
oss-examined-Lived three-fourths
of mile from Mrs. Bell. Visited her
family frequently. Did not visit her
during her illness. Know nothing as to
Major Bells treatment of her during her
illness. Went to o picnic with them
Just before her confinement.
LOUIS PoLAsKI's STATEMENTS.
Louis Polaski testified that he had
known Major Bell for thirty years.
Have known Mrs Bell since '66. did
not visit the Bell family. Know moth.
ing about the manner in which Major
Bell treated his family. Don't think |
knew DR.. Trainer in Alameda. l did
not know the doctor, but knew the
place in Alameda county. told Major
Bell about the place just at the time his
wife was sick. Mrs. Bell went, but
don't know whether Major Bell took
Mrs. Bell or not. 1t was an insane asy.
lum. 1 was there. When Major Ball
came to me he said: "Mr. Polaski, my
wife is crazy" told him not to send
her to Stockton and that was over to
Alameda, which was more decent. l
took lady over there who was insane.
I think it was caused by money matters.
I don't remember her name. l don't
remember that she had a baby and that
her milk had dried up and drove her
insane.
Ellis Vallikut testified that he was
printer of Pomona. Work for ID. A.
Stephens; have seen the pamphlets at
the Pomona Progress; set up some OF
the first part. Mr.. stephens ordered
the work done. was given the copy
by Mr.. Stephens and told to set it up.
It was in the daytime that l was given
the COPY. George H. Holt and some
others, three think, we're in the office
at that time. | think man named
Keene was there. Mr.. Stephens did
not say anything to me about it,, except
to set it up 1t was printed in the 70.
mona Progress office, of which Mr.
Stephens is the owner.
Captain P. M. Darcy testified that he
knew Major Bell and the defendants |
have seen the pamphlet before. l had
one. Captain Thornton gave it to me. Did
not see anybody with him. Did not see
Mr.. Wells at that time. Never saw one
in the possession of Stephens or Wells
Captain Thornton said that he was dis
tributing the Life of Horace Bell" was
standing on the corner with Mr.. King
and Mr.. Kevane and Major Thornton
gave each one. Major Bell came up ant
asked us what we were laughing at ant
I told him at his life. gave my copy
to Major Balls son, who asked for it.
OTHER TESTIMONY.
H.Keene, when asked if he had
ever seen the pamphlet, declined to an
swer on the ground that it might sub
ject him to criminal prosecution.
Considerable argument followed pc
tween counsel as to the power OF tn
Court to force the witness to answe
the question. The question was with
drawn.
Witness knew that book had beer
printed in the office of the Pomona Pro
oress called the "Life of Horace Bell.
Did not know who owned the paper
Did not know who published the 20
mona Progress. Did not know what
Mr.. Stephens had to do with the Pro
gress office. ...
Lynn Lyman, printer, testified
that he had never seen the pamphlet
never had set up any part of the pam
phlet. Worked on the Pomona Progres
about three weeks. Heard Stephen
say he was going to get out pamphlet;
something about the "Life OF Bell.
Knew nothing more about it..
Captain Thomas Cox testlfed tnat ~
knew Major Horace Bell; knew hin
since 1866. Never knew or heard 0
Major Bell abusing his wife. VISITED
ths house very frequently. Livet
within one.hslf mile of their house
First heard that he abused his wifi
when saw pamphlet at cigarstore
Judge Brunson testified that he ha
conv of the pamphlet. He re